"National Ocean Service: Your Climate Change Resource"

Understanding National Ocean Service's Role in Climate Change

What Ocean for Tomorrow? Marine Ecosystems in a Changing Climate: Insights from the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report | CAKE: Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange

The National Ocean Service (NOS), a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, plays a pivotal role in understanding and responding to climate change. With its extensive expertise in ocean and coastal science, NOS is at the forefront of monitoring, researching, and predicting the impacts of climate change on our oceans and coasts.

The Great Divide: Our Choice for the Ocean

Climate Change Impacts on Our Oceans and Coasts

Climate change is causing significant shifts in our oceans and coasts. Rising temperatures, increased acidification, sea-level rise, and more frequent and severe storms are just some of the challenges we face. NOS's work is crucial in helping us understand these changes and adapt to them.

Climate change will shift the oceans’ colors — National Geographic

Rising Temperatures and Sea-Level Rise

Warming ocean temperatures are causing sea levels to rise at an accelerating pace. NOS's tide gauge network, the longest of its kind in the U.S., provides critical data on sea-level trends. This data helps communities plan for and adapt to sea-level rise, protecting lives and property.

there are many ships in the water and one person is on a surfboard

Ocean Acidification

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is making our oceans more acidic, threatening marine life and coastal economies that depend on healthy oceans. NOS's research helps us understand and mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification.

NOS's Response to Climate Change

an ocean poster with the words save our oceans written on it and pictures of animals in a plastic bag

NOS is not just a witness to climate change; it's also a key player in responding to it. Here are some of the ways NOS is taking action:

Monitoring and Research: NOS collects and analyzes data on ocean conditions, providing the scientific foundation for understanding and responding to climate change.
Forecasting and Warning: NOS's weather and oceanographic forecasts and warnings help mariners and coastal communities stay safe in hazardous conditions.
Adaptation and Resilience: NOS works with communities to build resilience to climate change impacts, such as by restoring coastal habitats and improving infrastructure.

Coastal Habitats and Climate Change

Coastal habitats like marshes, mangroves, and coral reefs are our first line of defense against storms and sea-level rise. NOS's habitat restoration and conservation efforts help these ecosystems adapt to climate change and continue to protect our coasts.

NOS's Partnerships in Climate Action

Scientists plan to pack Pacific Ocean with iron to stop climate change

two pictures of the same coral reef in florida keys

an aerial view of people on the beach with umbrellas

several people are picking up trash on the shore by the water and in the ocean

the ocean has many different types of marine life and is shown in this screen shot

a plastic bag floating in the ocean on top of rocks and debris, under water

the ocean is clean and ready to be used as an anti - pollution campaign for earth's oxygen

Raglan Seabed Mining Protest - Ezra André

A Fragile Balance: Where a healthy marine ecosystem meets the threat of human pollution

a turtle swimming in the ocean surrounded by plastic bottles and trash cans, with a ship in the background

Climate Hacking Could Cool the Planet, but Our Oceans Might Pay the Price

an image of the ocean forcast and severe acid rain with words below it that read, ocean acid rain

the logo for keep the ocean clean

NOS works with a wide range of partners, from federal agencies to local communities, to tackle climate change. These collaborations help ensure that our response to climate change is comprehensive, effective, and equitable.

International Cooperation

Climate change knows no borders, and neither does NOS's work. NOS collaborates with international partners to share data, knowledge, and best practices, helping to build global climate resilience.

Staying Informed and Engaged

NOS's commitment to transparency and public engagement means that everyone can stay informed about climate change and our response to it. Whether you're a scientist, a policymaker, or a concerned citizen, NOS's data, tools, and resources can help you understand and act on climate change.

Resource	Link
NOS Climate Change Website	oceanservice.noaa.gov/climate
NOAA Climate.gov	climate.gov
NOAA's Sea Level Trends Viewer	tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends